818th CRW, 143rd AW exercise together at Quonset Point, RI

by Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez
621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs

5/21/2013 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Members of the 621st Contingency Response Wing exercised with new faces for upgrade training.

The 818th Contingency Response Group combined with the 143rd Airlift Wing for the 818th CRG-143rd AW exercise at Quonset Point Air National Guard Station, R.I., May 9-17.

"We were looking to complete Contingency Response Element and Contingency Response Team leadership upgrade training in addition to career-specific CR training," said Maj. David Gaulin.

The training included C-130 operations, static loading/unloading, day and night ERO, NVG ERO, combat offloads, airdrop rigging, maintenance familiarization, DZ recovery training, NVG marshalling training, full spectrum communications, and integrated command and control with the 143rd Operations.

According to Gaulin, the 818th CRG was able to receive the training at a discounted price of a normal exercise.

"It's huge cost savings," Gaulin said. "We did not need to pay for rental cars, airport parking, airline tickets or line haul for our equipment. Any equipment we needed to bring, the 143rd AW provided airlift for. A major cost savings for us, and it's a great way for their loadmasters to get some training. Compared to traditional CR exercises that take place elsewhere in the United States, the per person cost was a fraction, 1/4 to 1/5th the cost."

According to Master Sgt. Christopher Ninteau, 143rd Airlift Wing airfield manager, the exercise was a great experience for the 143rd AW.

"This is the first time that we've trained with the CRW," said Ninteau. "These guys are seeing things from a different perspective. Typically most of the people on this base have been here for years. Although we deploy, we usually deploy together so we really don't get to see what it would be like to set up a base that has nothing. It's good opportunity to see that aspect and that perspective."

"The 143rd AW members were fantastic," Gaulin said. "From the time we started talking with them about this training back in September they were more than willing to help us out. From the wing commander on down they were great hosts!"

According to Gaulin, working with the 143rd AW was particularly gratifying to him as a born-and-raised R.I. native.

"I grew up watching the 143rd's C-130s fly around the state," Gaulin said. "I attended their airshow every year and read about their deployments during Gulf War I, Bosnia, etc. I'm very glad that we were finally able to integrate our CR personnel into their mission set. They have a valid reputation as an outstanding unit and a fantastic team. I'm thankful we were able to integrate the 818th into their operations for a mutually-beneficial experience."

JBSA-Randolph building renamed to honor former instructor pilot

by Alex Salinas
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

5/23/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- Members of the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph community gathered to honor the memory of the late Maj. Peter "Oly" Jahns during a building dedication ceremony May 17, when building 39 - home of the 39th Flying Training Squadron - was renamed "Jahns Hall."

Jahns, a reserve instructor pilot for the 100th Flying Training Squadron, which preceded the 39th FTS, died March 19, 2003, in a T-38 crash during a routine training flight.

Regina Nicks opened the ceremony by singing the national anthem, followed by an invocation from Pastor Ray Still of New Braunfels and opening remarks by Col. Steven Parker, 340th Flying Training Group commander.

"Oly excelled in everything he did," Parker said. "He was one of the guys who accomplished the mission day in and day out."

According to retired Air Force Lt. Col. JK Switzer, who was stationed with Jahns at then-Langley Air Force Base, Jahns developed an appreciation for the outdoors at a young age; he and his four siblings frequently backpacked, climbed mountains, canoed and skied during family vacations. He also discovered an early aptitude for flying.

He participated in a soaring course at a flight school in Germany during a trip to visit relatives, where at age 15, he became the school's youngest student to graduate after two weeks of instruction.

"When it came to flying, Pete was the best of the best," Switzer said. "His name was always at the top of a very short list of those who were the best."

Jahns was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Academy in 1985, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering. He also completed two master's degrees, one in aeronautical engineering and the other in international relations, with a 4.0 grade-point average.

But Jahns' hidden talent was in music, excelling as a pianist and competing at the state level in high school.

Jahns' wife, Rhonda, spoke about his vibrant personality, sharing what he would announce daily before work, "I'm on my way to keep the country free."

He also loved being a father to his daughter, Allison, and son, Alex, who are now teenagers, and would write down many of the "cute and silly things" they said, Rhonda said.

Ten years after the crash, Lt. Col. Todd Ernst, a current 39th FTS instructor pilot, said he still reflects on time spent with Jahns.

"Oly was my assigned instructor pilot when I first went through pilot instructor training," he said. "I had the honor to instruct with him later when I was assigned to the 560th Flying Training Squadron and then to fly ... with his flag onboard during his missing-man formation.

"Jahns Hall allows the example of one our finest to live on for the many people who never knew Oly," Ernst said.

182nd Command Chief retires after 41 years

by Staff Sgt. Lealan Buehrer
182nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

5/23/2013 - May 20, 2013 -- On August 17, 2013, Chief Master Sgt. Stephen James Eakle will retire after 41 years of service in the U.S. Armed Forces. Chief Eakle enlisted in the Illinois Air National Guard in June of 1972. He has served in multiple career fields that include security, training, medical, and logistics.

Four decades of involvement in the military have brought a wide range of experiences for Chief Eakle.

When asked about his best memories in the service, Chief Eakle replied with a description of deployment during the Global War on Terrorism. He deployed as the Command Chief for the 486th Air Expeditionary Wing in 2003 to Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. It was a bare base and civil engineers had not yet arrived to start construction.

The maintenance team that Chief Eakle was living with were working unusually long hours and living out of tents that were not fortified against sandstorms yet. When a sandstorm hit, living in the tent was not much different than living in the sand itself.

One day the maintenance team was out working after a sandstorm when the wing's aircrew, on their rest cycle, gave a special gift to their comrades.

"...These aircrew guys went into people's tents, took everything out, cleaned them all out, and then put everything back in," Eakle said. "So, you walk in and, like, 'The cleaning fairies were here!'...My best days are all related to the accomplishments of our people doing stuff that's not unexpected from us, but it's certainly unexpected from a lot of other people out there," said Eakle.

In those 40 years there were painful times as well.

"Well, importantly, there are two (bad memories)," Eakle said. "There was the day that Maj. Brown and Doc Allen were killed in an A-37 crash. And then there was the day we were notified over in Minhad of the loss of Jake Frazier in Afghanistan. Those two days are that worst memory...and for fairly obvious reasons."

During his broad career, Chief Eakle got to witness the evolution of the Air National Guard.

When he enlisted in the early 1970's, recruits were joining the National Guard in order to avoid deployment to Vietnam. That attitude brought a culture of minimal effort. Once that era of military history ended and draft dodgers left the Guard, what remained was a generation of enlisted personnel who embodied the three Air Force core values before they existed on paper.

He also witnessed the growth of the Air National Guard from the status quo mentality of the Cold War to becoming an intricate part of the national defense posture.

His career culminated in him becoming the highest ranking senior non-commissioned officer at the 182nd Airlift Wing when he accepted a position as the Command Chief Master Sgt. He first took his place as the enlisted advisor to the installation commander from 2000 to 2005 and again from 2009 to 2013 - a position he remained in until his retirement.

When asked what he will do when he is fully retired in August, he responded with humor and a chuckle.
"Anything I want to do, that my wife will allow, and you can put that part. Uh, actually, more motorcycling, more sailing. I'm going to do some concealed carry classroom work and tactical firearms instructor work, possibly some motorcycle safety instructor work, but that kind of thing. We have a house in Kentucky...which we live at now, so my weather is much better, my winters are much milder," said Eakle.

He also plans to spend overdue time with his family.

"I owe my family a whole lot more time than I'll ever be able to repay them," Eakle said, "and hopefully, I'll be able to do some concentration on that. Which is why you hear me talk often about while the mission is important, your family is vital. And that's not a lesson I always subscribe to, and so I've got some red ink in my ledger that I need to turn black, and hopefully I'll be able to accomplish that."

Chief Eakle is a highly decorated member of the U.S. Air Force. He was known for his brawny voice and formidable presence. He was never shy about promoting pride in his unit with his saying, "Doing it the Peoria way."

Doing it the Peoria way, with dedication to his service, began early in his career. After his draft number was not selected, Chief Eakle volunteered to join the Illinois Air National Guard and enlisted as law enforcement specialist. In 1977, he also began a career with a civilian police force as a patrolman. He retired as a captain with the Peoria Police Department in 2004.

His next career move in the military was a transfer to the Small Arms Training Unit to teach weapons techniques and tactics, where he eventually became the non-commissioned officer in charge.

In the mid-1980's, Chief Eakle was selected to become a first sergeant for the installation's Combat Support Squadron, and then became an non-commissioned officer administrator in the Tactical Clinic in order to bring field skills to the medical environment.

In 1991, he was asked to return to the Air Police, now Security Forces, to serve as the superintendent of the squadron, was then asked to return back to the medical unit in 1997. In 2000 was appointed the Command Chief Master Sgt. for the wing.

As the wing's Command Chief, he made it his personal mission to represent the wing command to our enlisted corps, and vice-versa, through effective communication. He also spent time evaluating the impact of Air Force and Air National Guard programs on the enlisted corps.

In the course of his career, Chief Eakle gained insight of both good and bad leadership. Of what it takes to be a good leader, he described in one word.

"Number one, over-arching, absolutely, if you had to do one word: integrity...You also have to have passion, and it's important to have those feelings - and, you know, control them - and then do it with integrity...You also have to be humble, and you have to realize there's other ways to do things," said Eakle.

Chief Eakle plans to remain active in the military community in retirement through organizations and events such as the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, the association for retired command chiefs, the 182nd retirement dinners, and the annual TACP Association 24 Hour Run.

"I owe the 182nd Airlift Wing in all of its forms for 40 years - Tactical Air Support Group, etc. - far more than I ever did for this wing," he said. "And I don't know how I could ever repay what this place has done for me over the course of my both civilian and military career, but I'll try."

Dyess mobility Airmen gain valuable experience during JRTC exercise

by Airman 1st Class Charles V. Rivezzo
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

5/23/2013 - DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas  -- Airmen from the 317th Airlift Group participated in a Joint Readiness Training Center Green Flag exercise May 13-22, at Little Rock AFB, Ark., in order to prepare for future deployments.

Dyess aircrews flew approximately 36 sorties across nine days, providing ample training on the ground and in the air.

The exercise assessed and certified the combat readiness of Air Force strategic airlift, contingency and support forces in a simulated expeditionary environment. Additionally, the exercise provided Airmen opportunities to refine processes and procedures that can potentially enhance real-world operations effectiveness.

"We have newer aircraft commanders, newer mission planners and maintenance guys who maybe haven't seen real-world operations," said Capt. Kevin Bailey, 39th Airlift Squadron. "Our goal was to ensure our newer guys gained valuable experience for our upcoming deployment later this year. The 24-hour ops we endured during the JRTC exercise is probably the closest thing we get to a deployed environment."

In conjunction with traditional mobility airdrop training, Dyess' C-130J aircrews also received vital inter-service integration experience, as their main objective was to support several ground units to include the 570th Contingency Response Group from Travis AFB, Calif., 621st CRG from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., and the Army's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division from Fort Bliss, Texas.

"The Army was the main user in this whole thing; we were just a small piece of the pie for their exercise," Bailey said. "Our job was specifically direct support for the warfighter on the ground, so a lot of the stuff we were doing was personnel and heavy equipment airdrop and Container Delivery System airdrop, which are all designed to support the Army in one way or another."

Furthermore, Bailey mentioned that due to tightening fiscal constraints across the Air Force, taking advantage of joint training exercises such as the JRTC exercise was crucial to maintaining the "train-like-we-fight" standard.

"This exercise was very important for our younger guys who may not have seen as much integration with the Army as some of us have in the past," Bailey said. "Now that we are cutting back on a lot of our flying hours, we don't get the opportunity to participate in as many of these exercises as we would like, which is why it was crucial to take advantage of every sortie we flew. As far as the integration aspect goes, this was as big as it gets, short of an actual deployment."

In addition to training on different tactics, techniques and procedures, the 39th Airlift Squadron was also looking to further familiarize themselves with the C-130J aircraft, as their squadron continues to finalize their transition away from the C-130 H-model.

"It's important to get experience across the unit when it comes to employing the J-model in certain mission profiles," said Capt. Beau Tresemer, 39th AS. "Our aircrews needed to see what they were capable of when it comes to utilizing the J-model, whereas the H-model isn't exactly the same deployment wise."

Tresemer added that exercises such as these provide abundant opportunities for training, learning and enhancing joint force capabilities for the U.S. military.

"We wanted our mobility Airmen to walk away from this exercise with complete confidence for when they go downrange," he said. "By working together in this joint environment we can all feel confident that when ground forces make the call, air mobility will deliver."

McConnell reservists will be among first to operate KC-46A

5/22/2013 - MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan.  -- Air Force officials announced today McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., as the preferred alternative for the first active duty led KC-46A main operating base.

"We are proud that our Total Force McConnell Airmen have been entrusted with this new mission and are confident in their ability to bring the new aircraft on-line," said Col. Ricky Rupp, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander.

McConnell AFB was selected as the preferred alternative for the KC-46A, termed MOB 1, because it has the lowest military construction costs and is located in a region of high air refueling receiver demand. McConnell AFB will receive 36 KC-46A aircraft. This will require the lowest manpower adjustments of the candidate installations.

"This is an important step in recapitalizing our tanker fleet. The KC-46A is the first of a 3-phase effort to replace our aging tanker fleets," said Rupp. "The KC-46A is expected to produce better mission-capable rates and less maintenance downtime. This is another step in maintaining our global reach for years to come."

Since the KC-46A is a replacement for the KC-135, 36 KC-135s at McConnell will be retired.

"I am very pleased that the proposed location of the main operating base at McConnell means that our Citizen Airmen will be among the first to fly and maintain the KC-46A," said Col. Mark S. Larson, commander of the 931st Air Refueling Group. "We look forward to working together with our active duty partners in the 22nd Air Refueling Wing in successfully performing this new mission."

Altus Air Force Base, Okla., was selected as the preferred alternative for the KC-46A formal training unit, and Pease Air Guard Station, N.H. was selected as the preferred alternative for the first Air National Guard KC-46A main operating base. Forbes AGS, Kan. was selected as one of the reasonable alternatives for basing, MOB 2.

The FTU and MOB 1 will begin receiving aircraft in fiscal year 2016. MOB 2 will receive aircraft in fiscal year 2018.

Air Liaison Controls Skies, Saves Lives

By Air Force Airman 1st Class Matthew Lotz
31st Fighter Wing

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy, May 22, 2013 – The lieutenant lowered a tactical vest over his head with practiced confidence. His face displayed the cool composure born of constant training. As he strapped on his helmet, an aircraft circled overhead, preparing for the first strike of the day.

Air Force 1st Lt. Patrick Bonner radios a Slovenian pilot April 19, 2013, at a training range in Pocek, Slovenia. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew Lotz   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Minutes later, ordnance rained down at the officer's command.

Air Force 1st Lt. Patrick Bonner and his team of tactical air control party members act as mobile air controllers, coordinating with pilots and ground commanders to deliver airpower, maintaining communications and providing precision close-air support, using aircraft and artillery.

On this mission, 8th Air Support Operations Squadron TACPs worked with Slovenian military counterparts to direct Slovenian aircraft on specified training targets.

"We train with the Slovenian TACPs once every couple of months," said Bonner, an air liaison officer who is part of a select group of commissioned airmen overseeing TACP units. "On this mission, we conducted 12 airstrikes as a unit to help keep us proficient in our duties."
The air liaison career field was created in 2010, and Bonner was one of the first graduates to go through the nine-month training course.

"I joined the Air Force to originally pay back my student loans, but I also wanted something challenging," Bonner said. "At the time, '13L' (the Air Force specialty code for ALOs) was brand new and exactly the perfect fit for me. There have been some ups and downs, but I enjoy it and have not regretted my choice."
Both enlisted members and commissioned officers go through the same Tactical Air Command and Control Apprentice Course at the TACP schoolhouse at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

"We both have the same training, from the same schoolhouse, which in turn allows us to trust each other to get the mission done," said Air Force Airman 1st Class Phonchai Hansen, an 8th ASOS TACP member. "I can relate to what [Bonner] went through, and vice versa."

ALOs are required to complete six training courses before graduation. They must learn how to navigate through harsh terrain during all weather conditions, operate tactical vehicles and communication equipment, provide tactical advice and coordinate close-air support.

"The fail rate for our career field is very high," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua Cullins, an 8th ASOS TACP member. "It's hard enough to become a TACP, but to then become an ALO is even more difficult."

Even after graduating, ALOs must continue their training to ensure they are prepared for the varied situations that can present themselves during a deployed mission, to include joint terminal attack controller certifications and survival, evasion, resistance and escape training.

"The most difficult part of the training is the mindset of it all," Bonner said. "It's very difficult to learn, because there are so many moving pieces. You have to be able to think and act, all within seconds.

"You have to continue pushing yourself," he continued. "Depending on how great of a TACP you want to be is how hard one challenges himself."

TACP members constantly try to improve their skills, which helps them be prepared for any situation, including deployments.

Bonner's role in a deployment is quite different from what his enlisted troops find themselves doing on a day-to-day basis.

"My focus during a deployment is liaising with the Army and giving them a grasp on how to best use aircraft in terms of the air-to-ground fight," he said. "Occasionally, I get to go out with my unit and implement airstrikes."

While deployments can be rough at times, most TACP members agree the best part about the job is calling in airstrikes and watching ordnance drop a few hundred yards away.

"When everything clicks, it's a blast," Bonner said.

Texas-based Airman’s Family Takes Steps to Help Tornado Victims

By Air Force Airman 1st Class John D. Partlow
47th Flying Training Wing

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas, May 22, 2013 – Efforts to help people who were injured or lost their homes began almost immediately after a deadly tornado struck Moore, Okla., May 20.

One of those willing to help was Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shane Buss, the 47th Flying Training Wing’s equal opportunity noncommissioned officer in charge, along with his wife and four children.

"I was stationed in Oklahoma when an EF4 tornado hit in 1999, so I've seen the kind of destruction these things can have," Buss said. "We consider some old friends up there to be like family, and that region feels like home to us."

The Buss family plans to drop off much-needed supplies such as snacks, water, towels and soap.

"Apart from food and water, the supplies needed most are construction equipment like wheelbarrows and gloves for clean-up efforts," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chris Robertson, a 72nd Security Forces Squadron patrolman assigned to Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. The tornado destroyed his home and crushed his family’s two vehicles.

"It's wonderful to see people helping who are so far away," he said.

Drop-off points have been established here for items anyone in the Laughlin community wants to donate to the tornado victims.

Honoring Whiteman's namesake

by Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

5/21/2013 - SEDALIA, Mo. -- It was a life that began simply on a farm in Missouri and ended tragically on a Sunday morning in Hawaii.

On Dec. 7, 1941, 2nd Lt. George Whiteman had just lifted off in his P-40B Warhawk to fight back against the Japanese invasion of Oahu when enemy gunfire hit his cockpit, wounding him and throwing the plane out of control.

The plane crashed and Whiteman, just 22 years old, died from his injuries. Fourteen years later, the Air Force base just 20 miles from his hometown of Sedalia was renamed Whiteman Air Force Base in his honor.

Each year, members from Whiteman and the surrounding community hold a wreath-laying ceremony to remember the sacrifice this young lieutenant made. This year marked the 25th such year.

"It's about remembering those who gave their lives so we can experience the freedoms we have today," said John Rucker, a community member who was at the original wreath-laying ceremony in May 1988.

"When we started, it was just four of us who laid a box of flowers on Whiteman's gravesite," Rucker said. "We never realized where we'd be today with this tradition and it's wonderful to see how it has continually grown."

One way Whiteman contributes to this annual tradition is by sending a flight of Airmen from the 509th Security Forces Squadron, Sedalia's "sister city," to stand as a formation throughout the ceremony.

"This is the least we could do to support Sedalia and the sacrifice Whiteman made," said Lt. Col. Christopher Neiman, 509th SFS commander. "We really appreciate being able to honor the flag and the lieutenant with our presence."

When the wreath-laying ceremonies started a quarter of a century ago, there were only a handful of attendees. At the ceremony this year, more than 150 people attended, including 25 of Whiteman's nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces, great-great-nephews and great-great-nieces.

Royal Air Force members participate in upgrade training

by Ryan Hansen
55th Wing Public Affairs

5/22/2013 - OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Over the past two years, 103 Airmen from the U.K. Royal Air Force have graduated from the RC-135 Rivet Joint initial qualification training course at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

Recently, 60 of them were back in the states and on the installation for some RJ upgrade training.

"In the two-and-a-half years since the U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force began this partnership, 51 Squadron has enjoyed the amazing hospitality of the 55th Wing, both in training and when flying together on operations," said RAF Wing Commander Garry Crosby, 51 Squadron commander.

In 2010, the Department of Defense and the U.K. Ministry of Defense came up with an agreement for the RAF to purchase three RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft.

The RAF is set to receive their first RJ later this year and this visit provided those aircrew members with the opportunity to participate in upgrade training.

"This training brings them up to latest upgrades ... equivalent to the capability being delivered to the U.K.," Crosby said.

The class took a little more than two weeks to complete and took RAF Airmen through classroom training, the simulator as well as flying the latest version of the RJ.

"Due to the extraordinary effort and efficiency of the 338th Combat Training Squadron, 343rd Reconnaissance Squadron and the 97th Intelligence Squadron, U.K. flyers achieved a 100 percent success rate in their conversion to the new standard," Crosby said.

While this latest upgrade training ensures the RAF aircrew are ready for the delivery of their first jet, they have already established themselves as great partners of the 55th Wing through what is known as co-manning.

Co-manning allows RAF aircrew to fly on U.S. Rivet Joints until the U.K.'s fleet reaches full operational capability. The first operational mission flown by 51 Squadron personnel was on June 21, 2011. Since then, they have flown more than 1,100 missions and accrued more than 20,000 man hours in the air on RJ operational missions. In addition, more than 10,000 hours have been flown on training sorties from Offutt.

"The U.S. and the U.K. have a special relationship and we're certainly proud that we have the honor of working so closely with them through this unique agreement," said Col. John Rauch, 55th Wing commander. "We have quickly proven the ability for our teams to work together and we couldn't be more pleased with their contributions to the fight."

Seven Summits team reaches peak of Mount Everest

by Heather Uberuaga, courtesy of Seven Summits Team
Air Force Safety Center Public Affairs

5/22/2013 - KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. -- On May 19, the U. S. Air Force Seven Summits team reached Mount Everest, the highest point of the world, 29,035 feet. This success marks the first time a team of military members from any nation has reached all seven summits: Mount Elbrus in Russia, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, Mount McKinley in Alaska, Mount Vinson in Antarctica, Mount Kosciuszko in Australia, and Mount Everest in Nepal.

The team included:

Maj. Rob Marshall, 34, a CV-22 acceptance pilot from Mercer Island, Wash., currently stationed at Bell Helicopter in Amarillo, Texas.

Capt. Andrew Ackles, 29, a TH-1N instructor pilot from Ashland, Ore., and stationed at Fort Rucker, Ala.

Capt. Marshall Klitzke, 30, a KC-135R pilot from Lemmon, S.D., currently an instructor pilot at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Capt. Colin Merrin, 28, a GPS satellite operations mission commander from Santee,
Calif., stationed at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

Capt. Kyle Martin, 29, a T-38/F-16 pilot from Manhattan, Kan., currently stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Va.

Staff Sgt. Nick Gibson, 36, a Reserve pararescueman and physician-assistant student from Gulf Breeze, Fla., stationed at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.

"Fifty years after the first American boots stood on top of the world, the first American military team has followed in those footsteps," said retired Col. Rob Suminsby, USAF Seven Summits team support. "The team unfurled the Stars and Stripes and the U.S. Air Force flag on the summit right after 5 a.m. in Nepal."

Though unable to make the journey themselves, Suminsby and Maj. Mark Uberuaga, co-founder of the USAF Seven Summits project, supported the team at home by keeping the blog updated and relaying key messages to friends and family members of the team.

"We were all on this journey with them. The day they took off for the summit we received 12,000 hits to the website," said Uberuaga. "The Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Mark Welsh, commented on one of the blogs a couple days prior to the summit attempt. The team knew the entire Air Force was rooting for them. I know they carried that with them to the top."

The 7 Summits Challenge began eight years ago when Wrath 11, an Air Force Special Operations Command MC-130H 'Talon II' crashed in Albania in March 2005.
"Rob and I had been planning a climb of Mount Elbrus in Russia, which is the highest point in Europe, before the crash," said Uberuaga. "We decided to dedicate the climb to our fallen friends. It was something we could do to honor them and it helped us deal with the loss."

As the planning continued, Marshall and Uberuaga decided to launch an effort to climb all of the seven summits to raise funds and awareness for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a charity that provides full scholarship grants, as well as educational and family counseling, to the surviving children of special operations personnel who lose their lives in operational or training missions.

Two of the climbers, Capt. Colin Merrin and Staff Sgt. Nick Gibson, turned back before the summit due to illness and concerns over frostbite.

"These guys deserve a huge amount of credit, as they made one of the toughest decisions a climber can make, turning around short of the summit," said Col. Suminsby. "Both made a good decision to turn back. The team was committed to safety throughout the process, and their actions are shining examples of how to do the right thing even when it's disappointing and not easy. A lot of people have been willing to sacrifice fingers or toes to reach the summit, but this team defined success from the outset as bringing everyone back in one piece."

Key to the team's success was including risk management in the planning and execution process. All members of the team are trained in risk management and use the principles in their day jobs and while mountaineering.

"The Air Force Safety Center has been a strong supporter of this effort," said Suminsby. "They recognized early on that this is an opportunity to promote a risk management mindset in all Airmen."

Rededication ceremony honors historic aircraft

by Airman 1st Class Ryan Throneberry
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

5/23/2013 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Joint base leaders and community members gathered to rededicate the C-118 Liftmaster static display May 14, 2013, at the circle in front of the McGuire Passenger Terminal here.

The ceremony was the culmination of a more than three-year restoration project taken on by 305th and 514th Air Mobility wings and 87th Air Base Wing volunteers.

A group led by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Hofrichter, 514th Maintenance Operations Flight superintendent, and retired Master Sgt. Corinne Alvord, former 305th AMW historical property custodian, was assembled in October 2009 to take on the daunting aircraft restoration project.

"The reason we are out here today is to recognize to the total-force effort that went into getting this aircraft back into pristine condition," said Col. Rick Williamson, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander. "This labor of love has a lot of sweat equity."

Alic Nelson, 305th AMW historian, took the audience back through time starting when this particular C-118 first arrived March 25, 1955, at then McGuire Air Force Base. The C-118 saw service all over the world to countries like Nigeria, Greenland, Brazil, Guam, Turkey, Libya and New Zealand to name a few, during its years at McGuire. Most missions involved troop transport, but some also held cargo configurations. One of the C-118's most notable legacies is that Sgt. Elvis Presley returned to the U.S. from Germany for discharge on this very aircraft.

"I think to really do a project like this right, you have to delve into the history aircraft," said Hofrichter. "Miss Nelson definitely helped us with that."

Williamson went into detail of what kind of work had to be done to restore the aircraft to 'like-new' condition. Repairs included replacing the tires, removing and cleaning the windows, repairing the sheet metal, applying a fresh coat of paint and much more.

Maintainers from the 305th and 514th Maintenance groups worked in their spare time to restore both the interior and exterior of the aircraft. Boy Scouts from Winslow High School, Troop 251, focused their efforts on rewiring to restore lighting in the aircraft. Members of the AMC Test and Evaluations Squadron, and even retirees who had previously flown on the airplane, assisted in various ways, including scraping paint from the historic aircraft.

Williamson awarded Hofrichter with an Air Force Commendation Medal for his hard work and dedication through the entire refurbishing process. The senior master sergeant then closed out the ceremony with a heartfelt speech to all in attendance.

"I will always look upon this aircraft as a reminder that even before I was born there were men and women who made the decision to slip the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of god, no matter the cost, and who lived with integrity, service and excellence long before it was a catch phrase," he said. "They, who in the worst of times, gave themselves to bring freedom to the oppressed, and in the best of times lived to fly another day. They are our past, our present and our future all rolled into one and I am eternally grateful. It is to them that I say this project was carried out with the utmost respect for your service and your sacrifice. You have given far more than can be repaid, but I hope in a small way that we've served you well here today."

Home team honors reserve rescue pilot

by Maj. Cathleen Snow
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

5/22/2013 - PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Baseball was the furthest thing from Maj. Rod Stout's mind when dodging bullets and flying rescue missions in Afghanistan.

But the familiar sights and sounds of America's pastime filled the air May 16 when Stout was honored by the Brevard County Manatees during a special game-time ceremony.

The Florida minor league baseball team took time out to recognize the 920th Rescue Wing helicopter pilot for earning a Bronze Star and nine Air Medals for heroics.

Although excited to be enjoying America's favorite pastime with his family, Stout was passé about the recognition he'd be receiving.

"I've flown lots of harry missions--saved babies, little kids, guys with gunshot wounds to the head, but I've been doing this for a while," said Stout, an instructor pilot on Air Force Pave Hawk helicopters. He has been on multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan since September 11, 2001.

Stout has been flying with the military for 12 years.

On his last deployment to Afghanistan in 2011, Stout flew roughly 160 missions and is credited with saving 100 lives.

"I counted at least 10 times we could hear bullets going by, or the sound of a gun," said Lt. Col. Rob Haston, Stout's co-pilot during his last deployment.

According to Stout, during one mission a bullet pierced the bottom of their HH-60G Pave Hawk and ricocheted through the cabin missing Stout and Haston, although a pararescueman on board was not so lucky. He was shot through the leg and survived.

Unlike that particular mission, the baseball game this evening ended more favorably. His home team beat the St. Lucie Mets, 3-2.

Biden: Coast Guard Has Growing Role in Nation’s Security

By Nick Simeone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2013 – Vice President Joe Biden told the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s graduating class today they are entering a world of new threats, some that didn’t even exist when they were born, and that the service’s changing mission means they are not joining “your father’s Coast Guard.”

“No graduating class gets to choose the time into which they graduate, and you’re graduating into a world that is rapidly changing,” Biden told the nearly 300 men and women about to be commissioned in New London, Conn., “from challenges and missions to changing climates.”

Biden noted the Coast Guard has become fully integrated into the U.S. military, playing an increasingly complex role in national security, given the types of post-Cold War threats America now faces.

“New stateless actors have stepped into the breach with the desire to smuggle weapons of terror into American ports in the belly of cargo containers to do our people great harm,” he said.

Human trafficking and piracy on the high seas are occurring at rates no one would have imagined 50 years ago, the vice president said, posing growing challenges to free trade and commerce.

“More than at any time in history, every nation’s economic power and viability [are] tied to the global economy and dependent on the safe passage of goods on the seas,” he added.

Another responsibility for the 2013 graduating class will be increasing operations in the Arctic. Biden said the melting of the polar ice caps triggered by global warming will likely open up new international shipping routes.

“You’ll operate icebreakers that allow ships to navigate waters that would otherwise be impassable from the Great Lakes in the Northeast to new passages in the Arctic,” he said.

BidenHe also highlighted Coast Guard achievements, especially the dangerous missions the service is routinely called on to carry out, from helping victims of Hurricane Sandy last year to humanitarian missions further from home.

“Your shipmates have saved 3,650 lives last year alone, risking their lives,” he noted.

From natural disasters to rescues at sea, Biden said, “there are tens of thousands of grateful men and women and children from all parts of the world who will tell anyone who will listen that the most welcome sight they’ve ever seen are those racing stripes coming toward them or the sound of that orange Coast Guard helicopter above them, lowering a bucket with a man or woman inside to save their lives.

“In this changing world, we are going to be increasingly dependent on you,” he said.

When all else fails, egress prevails

by Staff Sgt. Stephenie Wade
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

5/21/2013 - BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- The ejection seat is the pilot's last option if something doesn't go according to plan. If it wasn't for a small group of specially-trained Airmen, pilots wouldn't be able to resort to this life-saving option.

Deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Staff Sgt. Keith Billings, Senior Airman Garron Theriault and Airman 1st Class Mark Armstrong work as egress technicians assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron here. These Airmen maintain all the A-10 Thunderbolt II's Advanced Concept Ejection Systems, ensuring all the mechanical components, to include the pilot's seat and cockpit explosives, function properly.

"All aircraft seats are basically the same, but some components differ depending on the airframe including the explosives used to launch the seat out of the aircraft," Armstrong said.

The explosives in the ACESII have the capability to launch the seat out of the aircraft at a force of 14Gs. According to Armstrong, the explosives fire in a sequence planned up to a hundredth of a second, to ensure a pilot can eject in the quickest and safest way.

"We time change explosives depending on their individual service life which could range anywhere from 7 to 19 years depending on the explosive," Billings said.

"We have an inspection called an Egress Final that is due every 30 days that we track in the Integrated Data Maintenance System for every A-10."

While conducting the Egress Final inspection, the Airmen perform a full visual inspection of the ejection system, which includes the seat, cockpit components and explosives. If anything is found broken or out of technical data specifications, it's the egress technician's job to ground the jet and pull the seat to repair the defect prior to returning the aircraft to flying status.

"Our major inspection is the 36-month inspection, which requires the seat to be removed, and a full break down and rebuild of seat," Theriault said.

During an inspection, the egress technicians use a sling and a crane to lift the ejection seat from the aircraft, placing it gently onto a platform for transfer to a work area. All the components of the seat are removed including the chute, kit and seat explosive to verify service life. Next, they conduct pull checks on the ejection handles to make sure they have the correct amount of pull force for the pilot to actuate the ejection sequence and repair any discrepancies found during the visual inspection. Finally, the Airmen paint the seat and ejection handles for corrosion control and the parts are inspected by quality assurance team members.

"The difference between egress and the rest of the maintenance squadron career fields is egress can't conduct ops checks on the ejection seats," Armstrong said. "But we have to do our job, making no mistakes, and know that our system will always work every time without even testing it."

Whether conducting a 36-month inspection or doing a number of explosive time changes, egress technicians take pride in their work.

"Our system is the pilot's last option if something doesn't go according to plan and we take great pride in that," Billings said. "When all else fails, egress prevails."

60th Maintenance Operations Squadron leaves Travis with legacy

by By Airman 1st Class Madelyn Brown
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

5/20/2013 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 60th Maintenance Operations Squadron formally recognized its long-standing reputation and contributions to the Air Force mission during an inactivation ceremony Friday at the 60th Maintenance Group atrium.

The 60th MXG will absorb all personnel except the commander.

The final commander of the 60th MOS will continue his leadership in the Air Force and transition to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

Col. Mark Weber, 60th MXG commander, made remarks in regard to the future of the 60th MOS.

"The unit is transferred to inactive roles, but can be activated whenever needed," he said. "Where one squadron is inactivated, another organization is created. The 60th MOS is the heart and soul of the maintenance team."

Weber then presented the meritorious service medal to the final commander of the 60th MOS, Lt. Col. David Bennet, who is now part of a lineage along with the 10 commanders of MOS who came before him.

In his parting words as the 60th MOS commander, Bennet addressed the Airmen he led during his time as commander.

"I may be the commander," he said. "But without all of you, I don't get anything done. I have learned so much from watching all of you."

Squadrons are the basic building blocks of the Air Force, Bennet said. To witness the incredible feats these maintenance Airmen accomplish in addition to their professionalism has been a fortunate experience.

Prior to closing the ceremony, the incredible lineage and legacy of the squadron was presented for the ceremony attendees.

The squadron was previously named the 60th Station Complement Squadron during World War II, the 60th Logistics Support Squadron in 1991 and, in 2002, was redesignated as the 60th MOS.

In World War II-era, the 60th SCS supported fighter combat and heavy bomber operations against German forces in Nazi-occupied Europe.

When the squadron reconstituted to the 60th LSS, their mission expanded to oversight of multimillion-dollar budget, facilities, manpower and training for the largest logistics group in the Air Force. The Maintenance Qualification Training Program was developed in 1994 and, in 1996, the 60th LSS moved to Travis Air Force Base along with the KC-10 Extender air-refueling mission.

The 60th LSS was once again redesignated in 2002, this time to its final squadron title, the 60th MOS. In current day, the mission of the MOS was to provide support to maintain and sustain 18 C-5 Galaxy aircraft, 13 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and 27 KC-10 Extender aircraft at Travis.

The MOS was comprised of various shops including quality assurance, aircraft plans, scheduling and documentation, the maintenance operations center, the programs and resources flight, the analysis technology and the training flight.

"I am honored to have been the last commander of the 60th Maintenance Operations Squadron in the Air Force," Bennet said. "To the men and women of the MOS, I thank you."

The ceremony for the 60th MXG concluded with the singing of the Air Force song by the participants and attendees.

Face of Defense: Soldiers Cook Up Smiles in El Salvador

By Army Staff Sgt. Ian Shay
U.S. Army South

SONSONATE, El Salvador, May 21, 2013 – Before coming to exercise Beyond the Horizon El Salvador 2013 here, soldiers might have expected to eat only a steady diet of packaged rations for the two-week duration. But fortunately for them, Joint Task Force Jaguar is equipped with Army-trained cooks and a mobile kitchen trailer.

Army Spc. Jordan Humble, right, works quickly to serve up food to hundreds of hungry soldiers in Sonsonate, El Salvador, during the Beyond the Horizon El Salvador 2013 exercise, May 17, 2013. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Ian Shay   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Edward George Haggett Jr. of the New Hampshire National Guard, noncommissioned officer in charge, explained his favorite part of the job.

“I like when the soldiers go through the line and have a smile on their face, because they know they’re going to get a good meal,” he said.
The Army mobile kitchen trailer can serve up to 300 people in an hour and can be set up in 30 minutes.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” Haggett said. “People don’t always understand the work that goes behind the scenes. They just see what is on the line.”

Like Haggett, Army Sgt. Tabitha Roethel of the Wisconsin National Guard, a cook assigned to 107th Maintenance Company in Sparta, Wis., enjoys making soldiers happy.

“I like making people smile,” she said. “Food service is like customer service. We are the first faces you see in the morning and the last faces you see at night.”

Roethel said that while she understands that soldiers may not always like the menu being served, she does her best to motivate soldiers by asking questions as she serves their meals. Whether it is asking each soldier to sing a favorite song lyric or quoting their favorite movie line, she said, she finds a way to bring out the smiles.

“I ask questions to cheer soldiers up, because I know they’ve had a long, hot, hard day, and I know sometimes the food isn’t the best. So if I can get a little smile out of them, maybe they will have a better evening and wake-up tomorrow in a better mood,” she said.

Beyond the Horizon El Salvador is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored, U.S. Army South-led joint foreign military interaction and humanitarian exercise.

Travis captures award for food

by 2nd Lt. Jessica Clark
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

5/20/2013 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Travis recently won an Air Force Hennessy Award for Excellence in Air Force Food Service in food transformation.

Travis was one of six test bases under the new Air Force Food Transformation Initiative that launched in October 2010. The goal of the program was to better serve the dining needs for today's Airmen. The pilot locations included Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.; Little Rock AFB, Ark.; MacDill AFB, Fla.; Patrick AFB, Fla., and Travis AFB, Calif.

With this initiative, Travis partnered with Armark Corporation to provide Airmen with healthier and higher quality food.

"The strength in the partnership with our Airmen, DOD civilians, Aramark Corporation and Pride was key to this success at Travis," said Andrew Pauley, 60th Force Support Squadron food and beverage manager. "Building a strong team and working together produced the highest quality food for the Travis community."

Airman 1st Class Jennifer George, 60th Comptroller Squadron travel technician, reflects on her food experience at here.

"The food quality is very good," George said. "I eat breakfast at the dining facility almost every day. They always have fresh fruit and veggies. For lunch and dinner, I really enjoy the hot food line next to the pizza and pasta bar. The food reminds me of a mom-and-pop type dinner and is really scrumptious."

It's important to show Travis was selected to test a concept and is assisting in paving the way for the Air Force to better meet the wants and needs of the Airmen and the mission, Pauley said.

"I'm proud to be a part of a new concept like FTI that helps provide better quality and healthier options to the Travis community," he said. "It is another piece to a long line of excellence across the wing."

436th SFS dog handler proves his resilience

by Tech. Sgt. Chuck Walker
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

5/20/2013 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- When most Airmen meet the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, they get a chance to freshen themselves up, put on a fresh uniform and look like the epitome of Air Force Instruction 36-2903.

Not so for Staff Sgt. Zachary Cahall, 436th Security Forces dog handler, who met Michael Donley, SECAF, and former CMSAF James Roy, in austere circumstances.

Cahall, who was deployed to Afghanistan and working with the Air Force Office of Special Investigation and Special Forces, was in the hospital at Bagram Airfield, recovering from wounds he suffered in an incident near Shindand Air Base in Western Afghanistan the day before.

With the missions he was on with Special Forces, Cahall had a full mustache and beard. So it was quite a shock when he awoke in the hospital to find the secretary and the CMSAF standing at the foot of his bed.

"They were great, asking me how I was doing and everything," Cahall said. "It shocked me because the nurse came over and woke me up and said I had visitors, I wake up and the Secretary and CMSAF are standing there. I was feeling self-conscious because not only was I wounded but I had a full-on beard. "

Cahall still isn't 100 percent sure what led to his wounds.

Cahall, who was at Shindand AB in Western Afghanistan from Aug. 2012 through Jan. 2013, was outside the wire Dec. 28, 2013, with some other personnel clearing their weapons. He then remembers hearing what seemed like an explosion and from there things became tenuous, when he received a wound to his right forearm. The wound caused nerve damage to his hand.

"I turned around and started scanning the mountains to see where it had come from," Cahall said. "I didn't realize I had gotten hit. Someone said Zach you're bleeding. I looked and blood shot up everywhere, that's when I knew it was bad. They took off my helmet and that's when shock set in."

Cahall said at that point he is thankful for the quick work of his OSI teammates.

"The OSI guys worked quick, cutting up my jacket and taking off my gear and trying to get a tourniquet on me," Cahall said. "They rushed me to medical. They had their fingers in the wound, plugging it with a bandage. From there I was medevaced to Bagram to see a hand specialist. I still don't know what hit me."

Tech. Sgt. Matthew Salter, 436th SFS dog handler and one of Cahall's supervisors, said that since he has returned stateside from his deployment, Cahall has persevered and pressed on, doing his job well.

"He's a hard worker and enthusiastic, especially for a brand-new dog handler," Salter said. "He is very detail oriented and dedicated to being one of the best handlers. He took his deployment and ran with it 110 percent. And even with everything that happened, he has worked through it like nothing happened."

Salter said that dog handlers are small and tight-knit community and that all of them are there for Cahall in case he needs support.

"I keep an open eye out for him and told him if he ever needs to talk, he can come and talk to me," Salter said. "He's a tough guy, he doesn't complain a lot. He knows if he ever needs anything, he has a great support system."

Senior Master Sgt. Russell Michaud, 436th SFS superintendent of operations and training, said Cahall's recovery is not only a credit to Cahall himself, but the unit.

"He's bounced back very well from his injuries," Michaud said. "He hasn't shown any after effects of his injuries or allowed them to interfere with duties. We are proud to have him as a member of the 436th SFS team."

Cahall, who has lost feeling in half of his hand due to his injuries, said his wounds, though painful are truly a blessing.

"The doctors said the wound was an inch away from hitting my main nerve and me not being able to use my hand ever again," Cahall said. "Where I got hit the nerves aren't reconnected. There are certain workouts I can't do because it causes pain. It's always in the back of your mind. I used to be able to do this. But, it could have been such a whole lot worse."

Cahall said that although his hand will never fully recover, he is thankful for all the people who have supported him, not only during his deployment, but since his return to Dover Air Force Base.

"I'm lifting weights to trying to get my hand stronger," Cahall said. "It's kind of a weird feeling, feeling like your hand's asleep. It doesn't bother me that much anymore. This has truly been an eye-opening experience for me."

Eglin hosts inactivation ceremony for 728th ACS

by Chrissy Cuttita
Team Eglin Public Affairs

5/21/2013 - EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Eglin Air Force Base honors, bids farewell to the 728th Air Control Squadron.

The "Demon nation" is on the move again.

Since June 1994, the 728th ACS "Demons" maintained a home next the 33rd Fighter Wing, and now, it is closing its doors, moving everyone and equipment to where the Air Force needs them.

During an official inactivation ceremony here May 17, their group commander led the covering of their squadron colors, its 27 combat streamers and a 62-year span of history. The remaining Airmen and equipment will be under a detachment of the 552nd Air Control Group at Tinker AFB, Okla., until the move from Eglin is complete.

"We'll ship out the last of the big equipment, process an incredible amount of administrative work and prepare to hand over our building," said Maj. Guy Wingenbach, Det. 1 commander, 552nd ACG. "It's amazing to see the legacy the Demons have. Until you walk into a controlled reporting center, you just can't describe it."

The 728th played a role in providing mobile radar surveillance and tracking in nearly every major Air Force operation. Initially, at Eglin, the Demons reported to the 33rd FW until they aligned with other CRCs to the 552nd ACG in May 2008.

Their mission forged bonds between Airmen of 26 different specialty codes, including in-house operators and maintainers. A family reunion atmosphere was represented at the ceremony where past and present commanders and other Demons reunited and recalled their memories.

"You can read about the squadron's history. But words on paper don't come close to capturing the blood, sweat and tears required to field an ACS," said Col. Alexander Koven, the 552nd ACG commander. At the height of U.S. military operations in the 1990s, there were 400 squadron members. Now, 240 are left to turn out the lights by the end of the year.

Time and time again the Demons kissed their families goodbye briefly. They left what is dearest to them behind to go defend them against something most of us never see. Every six months or so, the Demons would depart as a mass group for places overseas to set up 24/7 battle management for approximately half a year.

"ACS Airmen must be able to mobilize equipment, convoy into an austere location, create a base from scratch and then protect that encampment," said Koven. "Although everyone had a specialty, no one was immune from setting up tents, driving prime movers or defending the entry control point. The Demons were battlefield Airmen before the term became standard in the Air Force."

Through all its combat operations, one memory remains close to their hearts - tragedy on a 387-mile dangerous journey from Kuwait to Baghdad.

"It was during this convoy the squadron lost one of its warriors, Staff Sgt. Patrick Griffin, to an explosion when they stopped midway to their destination," said Koven. "Although disheartened by loss, the Demons continued the mission driving through the still active battlefield to the newly named Baghdad International Airport and established Camp Griffin."

A memorial stands as a lasting 728th ACS presence here.

The deployment cycle for the Demons has continued since 2003 with seven unit deployments completed and members still in Southwest Asia today.

"I found myself in a very special place," said Wingenbach about his arrival to the squadron during a time many were deployed. "It's a place where people knew their job well and they did it with pride."

Wingenbach remembers when he first met deployed members returning to the squadron. They went right into helping a local exercise, continuing 24-hour operations, but for a mission in their own neighborhood.

"Folks wanted to do the best job they could to support," he said. "When official words came out about the deactivation, you might think some of the drive would be lost, but you would be mistaken with this group. The official announcement brought a lot of emotions, but I never saw a loss of pride and I certainly didn't see a reduction in effort."

The 728th ACS began their history on Eglin's range as the 728th Tactical Control Squadron at Duke Field in December 1977. They joined the 33rd FW in May 1992, but didn't relocate until 1994. Squadron history dates back to 1950, lining them up to be first to bring game-changing radar to a newly established U.S. Air Force within its first decade.

"This does not mean the end of the 728th ACS or its legacy," said Koven. "The Demons on active duty will move to other squadrons where they can take the spirited skills they received here and apply them to new locations. Everyone else who is a part of the Demon nation - retirees, spouses, children and local community - can take pride in the fact they were associated with an amazing organization that made a difference in the defense of this nation."

Senior Army Guard Leader Describes Tornado Response

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2013 – Some 250 Oklahoma National Guard members are helping with recovery efforts after a massive tornado pounded an Oklahoma City suburb yesterday, killing at least 24 people and leaving neighborhoods, homes and businesses flattened or twisted, a senior Army National Guard leader said today.

Oklahoma National Guardsmen respond to the devastation caused by a deadly tornado that struck Moore, Okla., May 20, 2013. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kendall James   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Brig. Gen. Emery Fountain is an Army National Guard member from Oklahoma, who normally makes his home a few miles from Moore, where the tornado struck. Fountain currently works in the national capital region as support special assistant to Army National Guard Director Lt. Gen. William E. Ingram Jr., but has been in close contact with his counterparts at home.

“They’ve established a perimeter around the location … that was most affected, [and] they’re managing traffic in and out of that area where the destruction was most significant,” he said. “They’re also providing clean, potable water to the first responders and the folks that are involved in the response.”

Fountain noted that as a longtime Guard member in his home state, he has responded to previous disasters, including the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. He also responded to previous tornados, he noted, so when yesterday’s monster storm hit, he knew his fellow Guard troops would kick into gear.

“You know it’s a rapidly evolving situation,” he said. “And you also know that there are first responders -- local, state, and federal in many cases -- that are immediately responding.” In such circumstances, National Guard members act as enablers to help those first responders do what they do, Fountain said.

He noted state emergency management offices have the lead in initial response, and National Guard forces are one of the resources they can call on.

Right now, Fountain said, about 250 Guard members are helping in disaster relief efforts, from a total of 6,384 in the state and a regional Guard force of 45,272, made up of members from Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas along with Oklahoma’s citizen-soldiers.

“All the states are very well postured, based on their demographics, to support their population,” he noted.
The Guard has a very robust reporting system, the general said.

“So you allow the leadership there, within the Oklahoma National Guard, [to] push information to us, rather than us to be part of their challenge, and clogging their networks with requests for information,” Fountain said. “Because of our standard operating procedures, they know how frequently we need information. … We pretty much are on the receiving end.”

Typically as disaster response efforts evolve, he said, “the National Guard Bureau has a team that we send forward -- and that team is, in fact, en route [to Oklahoma] -- that is there to offer them liaison to the entire ‘Guard Nation,’” or the Army and Air National Guards of all U.S. states and territories and the District of Columbia.

Fountain said he contacted Oklahoma Guard leaders yesterday to send his thoughts and prayers and offer any resources needed.

“We don’t want to inundate them with manpower and resources that would just get in the way,” he noted. “We right now are very much just in a posture to respond to their needs, and thankfully, we have a balanced force across the Army and the Air National Guard … and they have a great deal of capacity.”

Fountain explained that while tornados are common in Oklahoma and several other states, the disaster response efforts soldiers train and units plan for are more general in nature.

“We have contingency plans for all types of events,” he noted. “But I found in my time as the operations officer for the Oklahoma Guard that it is best to have very general contingency plans.

“For example,” Fountain continued, “whether you’re reacting to a hurricane, a tornado, an earthquake or a high-yield explosive, you’re dealing with failed infrastructure, collapsed structures, you’re dealing with the requirement to secure a specific area -- and so we simply leverage that capability and capacity of those formations within that particular state.”

The National Guard offers states the resource of a force trained and equipped for national defense but able to respond to natural disasters at home, Fountain said.

“And we do it quite well,” he noted. “In this particular case, they immediately went in with … a quick-reaction force, and that initial force is to get there very rapidly -- I wouldn’t say minutes, but hours -- so that we’re there with the first responders. And we normally will establish a perimeter around the incident site.”
Such a perimeter can be large, with multiple traffic control points, but the presence of a National Guard member at such a place and such a time can be calming for local populations and help keep people from putting themselves at risk, he said.

“Our initial focus is always in saving lives and executing a rescue,” he said. “What closely follows that is getting infrastructure back up -- whether it’s broken natural gas lines, power lines that are loose and hot -- and we partner with the local utilities to help them.”

Fountain said National Guard forces bring a particular comfort in disaster settings, because they’re helping family, friends and neighbors.

“The National Guard -- and the country -- has never let down a community,” he said. “So we’re always there. I think they know that. As soon as the public sees uniforms, it’s a calming factor. And their Guardsmen are their brothers and sisters. They get a call … and they report to duty, and they suit up, and they take on citizen-soldier mode and get after it, and stay on the mission until it’s done.”